I'm looking to purchase a new travel trailer but don't know if I'm crazy to try and pull it with my truck the way it is currently set-up.

The truck:
- 2006 F150 5.4L, 3.55LS, Supercrew 20" tires, Edge Evo, Prodigy
- Tow capacity (8200-500 for 20" tires) = 7700#
- GCWR (14000-500 for 20" tires) = 13500#
- GVWR = 7200#

The trailer:
- 32ft travel trailer, loaded at 7250#

I have weighed the truck and all components (passengers, WD, hitch, cargo, etc) and it comes out to 6719#. So I am below the 7200#.
I am below the 7700# tow capacity at 7250# for the loaded trailer.

But somehow Ford suggests I'm over the GCWR with my 6719+7250 = 13969# What gives with that?

Would a simple swap of the axle from 3.55 to 4.10 solve all my problems?

 

That's very common. You are looking at several parameters, all of which have a maximum. However, just because most of them are under limit doesn't mean ALL are under limit. You also have not looked at GAWR, front and rear.

An axle swap will not change any of the limits. It will just make for an easier tow, and if you are going to tow something that big, I'd even think about 4.56's.

Personally, I wouldn't tow a 32 foot trailer with any 1/2 ton truck. If you want something that big, get a 3/4 or 1 ton truck and a 5th wheel.

 

How do you know the trailer weighs #7250 'loaded'? Is that the GVWR of the trailer? If so, then that's okay to figure in that weight, but if not, then it's a roll of the dice on what it really weighs sitting there on the lot...

Figure on the tongue weight being at least #800, but probably closer to #900... That will then put you over your trucks GVWR by several hundred pounds, probably putting you at or over your rear GAWR..

You've done a good job of figuring this stuff out first, as many simply buy the rig they like and ask later!

You'd be maxed out for sure and towing at your max ratings is not too joyfull of a time, especially when the whole point of owning a TT is to get out and 'enjoy' all the aspects of owning and using it...

I've got a #7700 'tow rating' on my truck too, but my TT only weighs in at #5000 and it's a joy to tow.. It works hard at doing it too. Could not imagine another #2250 and 10 more feet back there...

Mitch

 

I took the dry weight of the trailer and added the weight of all the cargo I know I carry from taking many camping trips with the kids in the past, to find our total trailer weight.

I guess the reason I am thinking I would be ok if I changed the gears is that the 3.73 F150 has a GCWR of 15000# (14500# if you subtract the 500# for 20" tires). There is nothing else different about the truck that gives it an extra 1000# towing.

 

The tow rating may change with new gears but your payload capacity/ GCVWR/GVWR won't...same frame,axels,tires and brakes as a lower geared vehicle.

 

I guess this is what I using as my "base" logic for a change to the axle ratio to help me out.

2006 5.4L, 3.55LS, 4x4 SuperCrew = 14000# GCWR & 8200# Towing
2006 5.4L, 3.73LS, 4x4 SuperCrew = 15000# GCWR & 9200# Towing

You need to subtract 500# from all above ratings for 20" tires.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...trp16Jan06.pdf

 

Tow ratings sound good on commercials and yakking at the bar, but really don't mean much when the footnotes attached to them state that you still can't exceed any of your trucks other ratings like GVWR and GAWR.

Swapping your gears to 3.73 will help and gain you a couple hundred rpms at any given speed in any given gear, but would not really be worth the expense IMO...

Yes, you can't deny the additional tow rating they provide, but in all reality, you will still be exceeding your trucks GVWR when you add the trailers tongue weight to the equation... Yes, going over your GVWR by several hundred pounds is not going to cause your truck to instantly implode, but it's a good indicator that you are about as much as you really want to be, weight wise...

A trailers 'dry' weight is usually a low ball figure too. It's usually taken right as the trailer leaves the production line. Options and other things like propane tanks, batteries, awnings, air conditioners, etc are added after the fact and take away from the CCC of the trailer.

What is the make and model of the trailer in question? IMO, if it has a GVWR of #8000 or more, then you won't be happy with your trucks performance towing it.. Especially if it's for any distance over say a couple hundred miles and if any hills or grades are involved, even with a 3.73 or lower gear set...

I still commend you for doing your 'due diligence' and while you may not get the 'sure, you won't have any problems' answers from me, I'm only speaking from my own experiences and I HAVE towed other rigs at their max and then some and it's something I rather not do on a regular basis... If you do want that 'sure, you won't have any problems' speech, just ask the trailer salesmen and he'll provide it for you! ha, ha!

All kidding aside..... Good luck with the search and be prepared to maybe have to go a bit smaller/lighter on the alternative TT choices....

Mitch

 

Get a smaller one or a lighter one. If you must have a large overweight trailer get a larger truck. I dont understand why so many people push the limits of there veichles.

 

If you have a wife then you know why. I've convinced mine to look at a trailer that fits better into the weights of our truck.

 

I'd recommend something about 10 feet shorter and at least 2000# lighter.

 

+1

(3 char)

 

If you want to tow on 20's with 3.55 or 3.73 gears, I'd stick with a trailer that weighs around 4500-5000 dry max, and around 6500 loaded and wet. My toy hauler weighs 6500# dry and even with my 4.56s (I have 35s), the trans gets kinda pissy on big hills. The engine can handle the weight fine, but cooling the ATF becomes a MAJOR concern on trailers when you get closer to your max tow and gross weight limits. I tip the scales at about 8,200# on my Pismo trips and it's not a fun time trying to haul that much weight up and over the grades. It can do it, but I know its shortening my ATF and transmission life.